The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-11-05
BORN TO COMMAND.
How My Grandmother Suppressed
an Resurrection.

l shall not attempt to deny the fact that
MY grandmother, Prudence Hascall, ''wore
the brooches" over my grandfather, who
answered to the name Of Josiah. lie was
short, 1eshy, good natured, lazy, and could
only be aroused by some sensational event.
My grandmother, on the contrary, was tail,
spare, always scolding, active, and mad the
ambition of politician.
Thirty years ago, when almost every New
England family had turn of western fe-
ver,'' she looked across the dinner table at
Josiah one day. and commanded:
Josiah, sell the farm, and we will re-
move to Iowa.
just what grandfather said in reply 1 do
not know, but in two weeks he had sold the
farm, disposed of his personal property,
shaken hands all around and man and wife
were on their way West
Josiah, buy this house and four acres of
ground" commanded Prudence, as the
couple halted at the county seat of new
county in the northern part of the State
Again | do not know what grandfather
replied, but he made the purchase. Grand
mother intended, ultimately to command
grandfather to purchase farm, but she
saw speculation in buying this property,
and beside, knew that nothing would be
lost in waiting to look around a little.
''Josiah, take the nomination for sheriff"
commanded Prudence, when u delegation
waited upon grandfather one day, a few
mouths after his arrival, and informed him
that he had been selected as their party
candidate for the Office named.
Now, my grandfather was INST the wrong
man to make good sheriff, especially in
that wild district, the home of horse
fisinx-aa COMMUNICATIONS iefl,x 4
rnurderers, and he knew his failings. But
when Prudence commanded, it was Josiah's
duty to obey, and week afterwards he
had been duly elected county sheriff
There was some difficulty attached to the
position; the salary was fair, the jailor had
his rent and fuel gratis, and the duties
were not so laborous as farm work.
My grandmother had thought these things
all over, and had planned just how every
thing should be carried out. She knew
that her husband was too good natured to
prosecute thief, too lazy to catch one,
aud SO, one day, after moving into new
quarters, she coolly remarked:
''Josiah, appoint John Granger your first
deputy, and also make him ssstant TAILOR"
Two hours after, the appointment had
been made, and the deputy was in posses
sion of his Office. Granger was almost
giant in height and weight, was as brave as
u lion, had been deputy under the previous
administration, and had the name of being
the best thief-catcher in the county Ny
grandmother knew that grandfather could
'ouiy hold the position in name, for reasons
before given, and she had wisely selected
Granger, who was single man, and could,
therefore, become an inmate of the family.
The jail was about the only stone build
inn m n 1,tu and
The board of supervisors had felt the need
>'of some strong place in which to confne the
desperate characters lowering around Pal
Inyra, and had accordingly been liberal
with the county funds. 1t was two-story
sttuc ure, with wing for the jailor's
family, the second story for females and
boys, and thirteen stout cells on the ground
floor. These cells were all in a row, with
al ten-foot corridor in front. An iron door
led out into a large hall, which was also a
reception room. Stairs led from this hall
to the second story; there was an Office at
one end, waste-room at the other, and
then a small hall led into the wing. The
door OF this tile hall was very heavy and
stout and was always kept locked. All
the water, provisions and so forth, were
brought in from the wing through this
door. Taken altogether, the Jail was a
strong one, and grandmother and Granger
had their own way about conducting it,
The building held two or three prisoners
-Only when my grandfather took possession,
but about u month after that event, eleven
OF the ground cells were occupied by as
desperate a set of men as ever looked
through the CRATES. Three were there on
Charge of murder, four for highway robbery
and the other four were professional horse.
thieyes. All W ere waiting for the session
@of court, which would result in their being
.seut 10 q stronger prison.
One day, while grandfather was wonder
ing who the twelfth man would be, he came
Ia. What his real pGtue WIS, no one knew
.4--e wue known all oyer tlIe Slate as "Wld